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Published: Dec. 21, 2022, 9 a.m.

My favorite church experience is singing \u201cO Holy Night\u201d at a Christmas Eve service. Many churches will turn off the lights and pass out candles that are lit as the song begins. It\u2019s quite moving.

Today\u2019s episode is about the interesting and surprising history of \u201cO Holy Night.\u201d But first this:

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"O Holy Night"

The words to \u201c O Holy Night\u201d were written in 1843 by Placide Cappeau, a French wine merchant and poet. Although he was never particularly religious, Cappeau was asked by a local parish priest to write a Christmas poem to celebrate the recent renovation of the church organ in his hometown. The poem was entitled \u201cMidnight, Christians.\u201d Four years later in 1847 his friend, Adolphe Adam, wrote music to accompany the lyrics creating the song initially titled, \u201cCantique de Noel,\u201d or \u201cChristmas Carol\u201d in English.

Adam was a French composer and music critic who wrote mostly operas and ballets. Alongside the opera Giselle (1841), \u201cO Holy Night\u201d is one of his best-known works.

\u201cCantique de Noel\u201d (i.e., \u201cChristmas Carol\u201d) became popular in France and was sung in many Christmas services. But when Placide Cappeau left the church to join a socialist movement, and it was discovered that Adolphe Adams was a Jew, the French Catholic church leaders decided \u201cCantique de Noel\u201d was \u201cunfit for church services because of its lack of musical taste and total absence of the spirit of religion.\u201d But even though the church no longer allowed the song in their services, the French people continued to sing it.

An American perspective on \u201cO Holy Night\u201d

Then in 1855, an American minister and writer, John Sullivan Dwight, saw something in the song that moved him beyond the story of the birth of Christ. An abolitionist, Dwight strongly identified with the lines of the third verse of the song

\u201cTruly he taught us to love one another; his law is love, and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease.\u201d

He published his English translation of \u201cO Holy Night\u201d in his magazine, and the song quickly found favor in America, especially in the North during the Civil War.

Back in France, the song continued to be banned by the church for almost two decades, while the people still sang \u201cCantique de Noel\u201d at home. Legend has it that on Christmas Eve 1871, in the midst of fierce fighting between the armies of Germany and France, during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier suddenly jumped out of his muddy trench and began singing \u201cCantique de Noel.\u201d Then a German soldier stepped into the open and answered the Frenchman\u2019s song with Martin Luther\u2019s \u201cFrom Heaven Above to Earth I Come.\u201d

The story goes that the fighting stopped for the next twenty-four hours while the men on both sides observed a temporary peace in honor of Christmas day. There is no proof that this ever happened, but that\u2019s why it\u2019s a legend and a good story, never the less. One thing I couldn\u2019t find is how or when the title of this Christmas carol became \u201cO Holy Night.\u201d

"O Holy Night" is a first

Years later on Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden\u2013a 33-year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison\u2013did something long thought impossible. Using a new type of generator, Fessenden spoke into a microphone and, for the first time in history, a man\u2019s voice was broadcast over the airwaves. And what did he say? He recited the beginning of the Christmas story found in chapter 2 of Luke\u2019s gospel,

\u201cAnd it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed\u2026

After finishing his recitation of the birth of Christ, Fessenden picked up his violin and played \u201cO Holy Night,\u201d the first song ever sent through the air via radio waves.

Starting as a poem requested by a local parish priest in 1843, which morphed into a song 4 years later, \u201cO Holy Night\u201d has a most interesting history. Written by a poet who later left the church, then given soaring melodies by a Jewish composer, and then brought to America and used in the anti-slavery movement, this beloved Christmas carol is sung by millions around the world today.

Lyrics to \u201cO Holy Night\u201d

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Saviour\u2019s birth;

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

Chorus\u2028

Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!

\u2028O night divine! Oh night when Christ was born.

O night, O holy night, O night divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;

With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand:

So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land,

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,

In all our trials born to be our friend;

Chorus\u2028

He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger!

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King! your King! before him bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,

And in his name all oppression shall cease,

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;

Let all within us praise his Holy name!

Chorus

Christ is the Lord, then ever! ever praise we!

His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim!

His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim!

Sources

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/o-holy-night-original-lyrics-composer-recordings/
(Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas\u201d\xa0 Zondervan)
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-the-meaning-and-story-behind-o-holy-night.html

What does all this mean for you?

\u201cO Holy Night" reminds us of God\u2019s relentless creativity in pursuing all of us. Using a man who left his faith in God to write the lyrics, and a Jew who rejects Jesus, God uses this song, over 200 years old, for the purpose of drawing us to himself.

"O Holy Night" isn\u2019t just about one night, Christmas night. It\u2019s about all the nights and days that follow. Nights where you are offered reconciliation and forgiveness for your sins.

Nights of faith made possible by the birth of Jesus who knows your needs and weaknesses, and who teaches us to love one another.

It\u2019s about nights of hope for the future because Christ entered our world to save us from ourselves. It\u2019s about nights of worship for all that the Lord has done for us.

Here\u2019s the main takeaway I hope you remember from today\u2019s episode

\u201cO Holy Night" shows God\u2019s passion for making himself known. He uses music written by people who don\u2019t believe in him to comfort people who do.

Closing

Well, that\u2019s it for today. If there\u2019s someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow \u201cShare This\u201d bar.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Other episodes or resources related to today\u2019s shows

082: A Christmas Gift of Anticipation
136: Make it a Merry Christmas this Year
021: The Most Important Relationship of All

Last week\u2019s episode

188: Joy to the World - The Unintended Christmas Carol

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